1987 volvo 240

maleenoodlesoup · Post by **maleenoodlesoup** » 16 Jan 2009, 16:08

I just got an 87 volvo 240 for FREE from a family friend who got a new car and just didnt want it anymore. She said that it would stall on her, and she just never figured out what it was, or even bothered.
I got it after it had been sitting in her driveway for maybe seven months, and it didn't start without a jump. We replaced the battery, and after that it ran fine and took me the 3 miles to work and back every day.
However, in the morning, it would stall three times on the way to work. So I learned that Id have to let it idle for twenty minutes in the morning and when it stalled, I would start it again and lightly press on the gas for maybe fifteen minutes and then go, and it would work fine.
This morning, I warmed it up like usual, the temperature needle went up halfway, and I took it around the block about three times, and then I took it on the highway. Then it stalled. So I pulled over on a quiet street and left it until it got to about 70 degrees a couple hours later. It would ALWAYS start when it's warm outside. But not this time.
Eventually, it would stall after three seconds of being on, even with my foot on the gas just a tiny bit, and then it wouldn't come on at all. So I thought maybe it was flooded and I let it sit for thirty minutes, tried it again, and the same thing happened.
What could possibly be the problem? I'm going to take it in to get a diagnostic, but I just wanted to get opinions first. The oil was a little low but there's more than half a tank of new gas.

RichyRich514 · Post by **RichyRich514** » 24 Jan 2009, 15:14

from a past experience with my 86 240 ...

once for me it was the break booster hose that had a leak so whenever i tried to start it ...it would stall .. fixed the leak and everything was fine...

also could be something to do with the distributor had to replace it on mine to get her running again another time ...also could be something as small as playing with the knob under where the throttle is forget what its called ....had to play around with mine once to get her running again too

let us know what the problem was in the end !

peregrine · Post by **peregrine** » 26 Jan 2009, 18:21

Could be the fuel pump relay, which can be replaced for about $10 plus shipping. Could be sediment (rust) in the gas tank clogging the lines and filters. It can happen.

Seems to me, considering it cost you nothing, it would be well worth the money to get thee to a qualified Volvo mechanic. Ask around, stay away from the dealer if you can -- only because this is the engine best known by many mechanics who love working on Volvos, and the independent mechanics don't charge as much. I've met a few people who can diagnose the B230's most common problems in their sleep. But go to the dealer and bite the bullet if you can't find a good indie mechanic -- you'll probably be glad you did in the long run.

I own a 1987 245. The next year they went to assembly line production, as I understand it, so this year was the last of the team-built Volvos. That means it was put together, stem to stern, by a small group of guys who'd been working as a team for years. It's a car worth keeping, in my opinion, and it should be virtually bomb-proof when you get this problem ironed out. But stay away from bombs, just in case.